Drapery holder



United States Patent 1111 3,545,523

[72] Inventor DouglassR.Falkenber-g [56] ReferencesClted N ggg g 011i"UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,337,950 12/1943 Wemeretal, 160/330 [221 FM d 33:2,497,446 2/1950 Goldingetal. 160/348 [45] C 2,524,426 10/1950Comerfordetal 160/348 [731 W :g 2,556,886 6/1951 Reese 160/348 3,203,4698/1965 Falkenberg 160/348 FOREIGN PATENTS 511,332 1958 Italy 248/298 541DRAPERY nouma 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. .1 160/348 A47h 13/14 Fleldof Search 1601348,

349, 349(D), 330; 24/198; 248/298; 2l l/89 Primary ExaminerDavid J.Williamowski Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-Jerome F.Kramer ABSTRACT: A drapery holder mounted on a wall for holding draperymaterial in pleated fashion adjacent the wall, and around a window ordoor opening in the wall.

1 DRAPERY HOLDER BACKGROUND .OF THE INVENTION The drapery holderhereinafter described, is somewhat .similar to that shown and describedin US. Pat. No. 3,203,469, and copending Pat. application, Ser.No.536,702,

material held by the holder, is also in spaced relation from the wallsurface thus, leaving-a rather unsightly space between the wall anddrapery material held by the drapery holder. The purpose or object ofthis invention, is to provide a means for holding at least a portion ofthe drapery material in space covering relation between the wall surfaceand remaining drapery material held by the drapery holder.

Briefly stated, the invention is in a drapery holder for holding draperymaterial in pleated fashion in spaced relation from a wall surface andaround a window or door opening disposed in said surface. An arm extendsfrom the holder for grasping a portion of the drapery materialandholding it is space covering relation between the wall surface andremaining drapery material held by the holder.

The invention will be better understood by having reference to theannexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a window with surrounding drapery material;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a drapery holder mounted on a bracketdisposed on a wall surface; said view including a cutaway portionshowing a fixed and extensible arm for grasping the drapery material tocover the space normally existing between the wall surface and remainingdrapery material; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 3-3of FIG. 2.

Referring generally to the drawing, there is shown a window or openingindicated at 10. Drapery material 12 is hung in folded or pleatedfashion around the window to enhance its appearance. The draperymaterial 12 is held in position by a pair of drapery holders 14 securedat the upper corners of the window 10. Each holder is, mounted on abracket 16, which is secured either to the wall adjacent the window 10,or molding, or casing surrounding the window 10.

The drapery holder 14 is somewhat similar to that disclosed in theaforementioned patents, and comprises a plurality of fingers, e.g.fingers 20 having free endsfacing or extended toward the wall 18. Itshould be apparent to one skilled in the art that the pleats are formedin the drapery material by placing a fold of material 12 betweenadjacent fingers of the drapery holder 14. The innermost edge or fallline 22 of folded material closest the wall 18., is. normally in spacedrelation from the wall 18, because the drapery holder 14 is positionedon the bracket 16 in spaced relation from the wall 18. Thus, a ratherunsightly gap, or space 24 is left between the wall 18 and fall line 22of drapery material 12.

A decorativeshield is provided for covering the plain and unattractiveholder 14. Any suitable means, e.g. spring clips 28, may be used tofrictionally hold the shield 26 on the drapery holder 14.

THE INVENTION In one embodiment of the invention, an arm 30, integrallyl formed with the drapery holder 14, extends therefrom towards the wall18, and is utilized for grasping and holding the outermost fold 32 ofdrapery material 12 in space covering relation betweenthe wall 18 andremaining folds of drapery material 12. An abutment 34 is disposed onthe free arm end 36 adjacent the wall 18. A specially configured finger38, is resiliently mounted on the arm end 36 for grasping the outermostfold 32 of drapery material 12: and compressing it against the abutment34. In this particular embodiment, the finger 38 extends from the freearm 36 and-is reversely bent forming a loop, facing inwardly toward thefingers20 or the remaining drapery material 12 as shown in FIG. 3, thefinger 38 having a free end 40 adjacent the abutment 34. The finger 38is composed of plastic material which is comparatively thin in rela'tionto the arm 30 or abutment 34 formed thereon. The free end 40 of thefinger 38, is resiliently displaceable from and towards the abutment 34.Thus, the free finger end 40 and abutment 34 act as a pair of spacedgrippers or abutrnents, between which the outermost fold of folds ofdrapery material is firmly grasped and held adjacent the wall 18.Additionally, by the finger 38 facing inwardly toward the remainingdrapery material 12, additional folds asshown at 32 can be grasped andhidden behind the material 12'. l i

In another embodiment of the invention, a similarly configured arm 300is-coupled to the drapery holder 14 and extends therefrom towards thewall I LAs seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the arm 30a is extensiblefrom thedrapery holder 14, i.e. the arm 30a is matingly configured to slidealong, or telescopically move from the fixed arm 30. The extensible am300 is hollow, and at least partially surroundsthe fixed arm 30. Thefixed arm 30 and extensible arm 30a are oval shaped to keep them fromrotating relative to each other.

The fixed arm drapery holder 14. can be utilized in mostcases wheresmaller brackets 16d, are used. In such cases, the holder 14 is adjustedor positioned on the outstanding leg 42 of the bracket 16 in a manner asillustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,203,469, such that the free arm end 36 isadjacent, or in abutting relation to the wall 18. The extensible arm 30ais used.

drapery material 12, and compressing it against the abutment 34a. Thefinger 38a is similarly reversely bent in a loop and has its free end40a adjacent the abutment 34a, to provide a pair of grippers, betweenwhich the drapery material 12 is grasped and held adjacent the wall.

The extensible arm 30a is packaged with each drapery holder 14,including the fixed arm 30. Thus, the complete unit is designedtoaccommodate varying gaps or spaces which might occur between the wall18 and drapery holder 14, or folded drapery material .12. The abutmentand free end of the finger on the fixed arm is not greater than thewidth W of the longitudinal opening 44 which is coextensive with theextensible arm 30a. The reason for this should be obvious in that theextensible arm 30a telescopes and partially encloses the smallersimilarly configured fixed arm 30.

Thus, there has been described a new and different drapery holder havingeither a fixed or extensible arm for holding a portion of the draperymaterial in covering relation over a space that normally existsbetweenthe wall and adjacent folds of drapery material.

I claim:

1. In combination:

a. A drapery holder positionable adjacent a surface and having spacedfingers with free ends facing toward said surface for holding draperymaterial in pleated and folded fashion in spaced relation from thesurface;

b. A bracket on one end of said holder for adjustably supporting saidholder from the surface;

0. A first arm on the opposite end of said holder extending towards saidsurface; y

d. Said first arm having means on the end thereof toward said surfacefor grasping the outermost fold of said draperymaterial; and

e. A second arm carried by said first arm and extending toward saidsurface and having means on the end thereof toward said surfaceforgrasping the outermost fold of said drapery material.

2. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said first arm means includes anabutment, and a finger for compressing drapery material against theabutment.

- 3Q Thecornbination of claim 1, wherein said second arm [means includesanlabutment and a finger for compressing I draperyniaterial against theabutment.

4.1The combination of claim 1, wherein the first arm means [and thesecond arm means eachcomprise an abutment and a finger cooperating -withthe abutment to grasp said drapery fingers. 4

material, each of said fingers extending toward saidspaced

